Micronutrient Supplement Dispensing Package

Abstract

Provided herein is a prenatal and postpartum multivitamin and mineral supplement package provided in the form of a plurality of solid oral dosage units individually contained in blister packs wherein a portion of the dosage forms are iron-containing while at least half of the dosage units are essentially iron-free and wherein the total amount of iron in the package as sold to purchasers is less than about 1300 mg of elemental iron.

1 .- 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . A micronutrient supplement consisting of unitary oral dosage forms contained in a package, said supplement comprising iron, said supplement being characterized by two distinct types of unitary oral dosage forms contained in said package, wherein at least half of the unitary oral dosage forms are essentially iron-free and the remainder of the unitary oral dosage forms are iron-containing and further characterized in that the total amount of elemental iron in the package, as sold in commerce, is less than about 1300 mg of iron. 
     
     
         20 . The micronutrient supplement of  claim 19 , wherein the total amount of elemental iron in the package is 1050 mg or less. 
     
     
         21 . The micronutrient supplement of  claim 19 , wherein the package as sold in commerce contains about a month's supply of the micronutrient supplement, and wherein the total amount of elemental iron in each iron-containing unitary oral dosage form is about 35 mg. 
     
     
         22 . The micronutrient supplement of  claim 21 , provided as a twice-a-day dosage regimen in the form of two distinct unitary oral dosage forms, with a first unitary oral dosage form being iron-containing and the second unitary oral dosage foam being essentially iron-free. 
     
     
         23 . The micronutrient supplement of  claim 19 , wherein the unitary oral dosage forms are tablets. 
     
     
         24 . The micronutrient supplement of  claim 19 , wherein the first type of unitary oral dosage form is discernable from the second type of unitary oral dosage form by contrasting color-coding. 
     
     
         25 . The micronutrient supplement of  claim 19 , wherein the iron-containing unitary oral dosage forms comprise, as active ingredients, beta-carotene, vitamin E, vitamin C, vitamin B 1 , vitamin B 2 , niacinamide, vitamin B 6 , pantothenic acid, magnesium, iodine, iron, copper and zinc, and wherein the essentially iron-free unitary oral dosage forms comprise, as active ingredients, vitamin D 3 , calcium, vitamin B 12  and folic acid. 
     
     
         26 . A micronutrient supplement kit, said kit comprising, in a package, two distinct types of unitary oral dosage forms wherein at least half of the unitary oral dosage forms are essentially iron-free and the remainder of the unitary oral dosage forms are iron-containing, said package having a total amount of elemental iron contained in the package, as sold in commerce, of less than about 1300 mg, said kit further comprising instructions for use including instructions for identifying the iron-containing dosage forms from the essentially iron-free dosage forms. 
     
     
         27 . The kit of  claim 26 , wherein the total amount of elemental iron is 1050 mg or less. 
     
     
         28 . The kit of  claim 26 , wherein the package as sold in commerce contains about a month's supply of the micronutrient supplement and wherein the total amount of elemental iron in each iron-containing unitary oral dosage form is about 35 mg. 
     
     
         29 . The kit of  claim 26 , provided as a twice-a-day dosage regimen in the form of two distinct unitary oral dosage forms, with a first unitary oral dosage form being iron-containing and the second unitary oral dosage form being essentially iron-free. 
     
     
         30 . The kit of  claim 26 , wherein the unitary oral dosage forms are tablets. 
     
     
         31 . The kit of  claim 26 , wherein the first type of unitary oral dosage form is discernable from the second type of unitary oral dosage form by contrasting color-coding. 
     
     
         32 . The kit of  claim 26 , wherein said kit contains four separate 7-day blister arrays of unitary oral dosage forms and one 2-day blister array of unitary oral dosage forms, wherein the blister arrays have individual plastic bubbles containing the unitary oral dosage forms, each plastic bubble being sealed with an aluminum foil of a gauge difficult for a small child to pry open. 
     
     
         33 . The kit of  claim 26 , wherein the iron-containing unitary oral dosage forms comprise, as active ingredients, beta-carotene, vitamin E, vitamin C, vitamin B 1 , vitamin B 2 , niacinamide, vitamin B 6 , pantothenic acid, magnesium, iodine, iron, copper and zinc, and wherein the essentially iron-free unitary oral dosage forms comprise, as active ingredients, vitamin D 3 , calcium, vitamin B 12  and folic acid. 
     
     
         34 . A method of treating or preventing micronutrient deficiencies comprising administering a micronutrient supplement to a person in need thereof, wherein the micronutrient supplement consists of unitary oral dosage forms contained in a package, said supplement comprising iron, said supplement being characterized by two distinct types of unitary oral dosage forms contained in said package, wherein at least half of the unitary oral dosage forms are essentially iron-free and the remainder of the unitary oral dosage forms are iron-containing and further characterized in that the total amount of elemental iron in the package, as sold in commerce, is less than about 1300 mg of iron. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , further comprising administering the micronutrient supplement to women of child bearing age. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 34 , further comprising administering the micronutrient supplement to women in gestation, who have recently given birth, or are seeking prenatal treatment.